China's J-36 Becomes First Fighter Jet To Land Amid Sea Storm, Surpasses F-16 And Su-57M
The skies have a new contender, and it's not the F-16 Fighting Falcon or the Su-57M fifth-gen fighter. China's stealth fighter jet, the J-36, has stunned military observers with a feat rarely attempted, successfully landing on a warship amid towering six-metre-high waves in open sea. While American and Russian jets struggle in such extreme maritime conditions, China's J-36 has now set a new benchmark in naval aviation.
The test, reportedly carried out earlier this year in the South China Sea, involved the J-36 touching down on the deck of the Fujian aircraft carrier during a high-sea storm. The maneuver, considered near-impossible by traditional fighter jet standards, has not only demonstrated China's evolving military capabilities but also posed a serious technological challenge to the established aviation powers of several countries.
Engineered with a ginkgo leaf-style flying wing and powered by three WS-19 engines, the J-36 cuts a formidable figure in the sky. At 23 metres long and weighing in at 54 tonnes, the jet is larger and more heavily armed than China's previous J-20. Its payload reportedly includes long-range PL-15 missiles and supersonic munitions, expanding its strike capabilities well beyond visual range.
But it's not just about firepower. The J-36's edge lies in its resilience, particularly at sea. Fighter jets are notoriously difficult to land on swaying aircraft carrier decks in calm weather, let alone in six-metre waves and storm-force winds. That's where the J-36 makes its mark.
Direct Force Control (DFC)
The aircraft's tailless design would normally add to the challenge, but China's engineers have equipped it with a sophisticated Direct Force Control (DFC) system. Drawing inspiration from robotics, DFC allows for microsecond adjustments to control surfaces, enabling the jet to execute ultra-precise landings even in unpredictable conditions.
In the 2025 test, Western naval experts reportedly looked on as the J-36 performed a clean landing on the carrier 'Fujian', a feat few other militaries could replicate under similar circumstances.
The J-36 is also paired with the 'Fujian' carrier's electromagnetic catapult system, allowing quick and high-energy launches. This combination enhances China's capacity to operate effectively in volatile maritime zones including the Indian Ocean, an area of strategic interest to multiple nations.
Its Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and integrated electronic warfare suite add further combat capability, giving it stealth, surveillance and jamming functions in a single package.
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